What Are The White Spots Under Your Eyes (And How To Get Rid Of Them)!

The white spots that appear on your eye lids or under your eyes are called milk spots or milia, and they are a very common condition. These small spots on the skin can appear on anyone at any age, from infants, children to grown up and elderly people.

These random and annoying white bumps are a type of skin cyst filled with a type of protein called keratin. When keratin, typically found in skin tissue, becomes trapped beneath the surface of the skin, it manifests as a white lump on your skin.

They are most often seen on the skin around the nose, cheeks, eyes and eyelids, forehead and in some cases, the chest. Although they are irritating, in most cases they are harmless. Just don’t pop them.

So why do we get milia or white spots in the first place? These are the most common reasons:

The sweat glands might not be developed properly.

If the skin has been damaged from sun exposure, burns, the use of creams, steroids or blistering.

Luckily milia are common, painless, and pretty easy to treat. In some cases, milia will disappear on their own within a couple of months.

A few natural remedies that can help you get rid of milia!

LEMON JUICE AND SUGAR

When it comes to natural remedies and face products, the lemon is always involved. Its mother nature’s most powerful antiseptic, antibacterial and antioxidant.

Mix the juice of half a lemon and two tbsp of sugar plus a tsp of coconut oil. Apply the mixture topically on your face for 20- 30 minutes, then rinse.

NATURAL HONEY

Honey is a natural antibiotic. The best honey to use is the Manuka honey. It exhibits anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities and can protect you from further microbial infections.

Mix it with sugar and rub it on the affected area. Let it work for 20-30 minutes before washing it off.

CASTOR OIL

Castor oil is a multi-purpose vegetable oil that people have used for hundreds of years and it has has a number of medicinal, industrial and pharmaceutical uses. Mix 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 2 tablespoons of castor oil, apply it to your face, allow to soak, then dry off.

Additional Tips!

Make sure to clean the affected area daily. You can use a mild soap in order to prevent skin irritation. Soaps for sensitive skin can be found online or in pharmacies.

Steam open the pores. A simple way to do this is by sitting in the bathroom while running a hot shower.

Exfoliate the area on a regular basis. However, don’t over-exfoliate, daily exfoliation can irritate the skin and worsen this condition.

Use sunscreen. Especially high-protection sunscreens, they can be very helpful. Use Factor 50 sunscreen.

Using topical retinoids. Topical retinoids are creams and gels procured from vitamin A. Usually used to treat acne and other skin issues, they can be very effective in treating milia.

Avoid poking these white spots. By doing that, you can increase the risk of infection and scarring. And although is not always possible to prevent milia, swift treatment may keep them from appearing.

Tips for preventing milia include:

avoiding exposure to the sun for longer periods of time.

avoiding or reduce the use of thick creams.

exfoliate between 2 and 3 times a week.

Medical Treatments

Not often, but if milia are causing you concern, there are some clinical treatments you can seek to try and remove them.

De-roofing. The white spots are removed with a sterile needle or a blade. Do not try this at home!

Curettage. First, the doctor numbs the area, then removes the milia, and seals the skin using a hot wire.

Cryotherapy. Using liquid nitrogen, the milia are frozen off, then removed.

Minocycline. This is an oral antibiotic that can be very helpful in treating milia.

Most of these treatments are expensive and carry a risk of scarring, except for minocycline. Since milia can dissapear on their own and themselves do not cause scarring, think very carefully before choosing one of these treatments.

Types Of Milia

Neonatal Milia. This type affects 50% of newborns, good news is they disappear on their own within a few weeks. Often found on the nose, this type of milia can also appear on the scalp, face, and even inside the mouth.

Primary Milia. Primary milia can occur in children and adults, and often appears on eyelids, cheeks, forehead, and in some cases, the genitals.

Milia en plaque. In this type of milia, multiple white spots are clumped together in a broad, and they often appear on the eyelids, behind the ears, and on jaw.

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